Sanctuary Activist Gets Early Prison Release

Stacey Lynn Merkt, 32, the first sanctuary movement supporter convicted of an immigration violation, has been granted an early release from prison because of complications in her pregnancy, her attorney said.

Merkt’s husband, attorney John Blatz, was at the federal prison in Fort Worth on Friday to pick up his wife, officials said. A federal court order will allow her to serve 83 days of her 179-day sentence under house arrest.